TNAG-2712-FCO40-3918-Parliamentary-relations-draft-White-Paper-on-Representative--1993 — Page 62

b) First phase of talks: April- May 1993 (Rounds 1-3)

23.

The British side(iii) explained that the talks would need to

be completed in good time so that orderly arrangements could be

made to hold the elections in Hong Kong in 1994 and 1995;

explained the Governor's proposals; noted that the Chinese side

had criticised them but had not put forward ideas of their own;

and sought specific Chinese proposals so that the talks could move rapidly to discussion of practical electoral arrangements. The British side also explained the cardinal importance of achieving a

genuine through train for the Legislative Council.

24. The British side also sought assurances from the Chinese

side on three further points:

Consultation on the Hong Kong membership of the

Preparatory Committee. Under the Basic Law, this

Committee will be established in 1996 and will

prescribe the specific method for forming the first

government and the first Legislative Council of the

SAR. Fifty percent of its membership will come from

Hong Kong. The British side proposed that there

should be consultation between the two sides about the

Hong Kong membership in the same way as there was

consultation about the membership of the Airport

Consultative Committee.

(iii)

The term 'the British side' is used for convenience. At all stages the position put

forward by Sir Robin McLaren in the talks as British Representatives was agreed between Her

Majesty's Government and the Governor, acting on the advice of his Executive Council.

17

statememt26.8/BRIEFS/NJH